Why don't Canon put a battery meter/gauge on their flashes?

[bwana]

Surely it can't be that difficult?

 

[Edduck]

hmmmmm good question! Does Nikons SB700/900 do it? I guess it can't be such a difficult thing to design, all you have to do is monitor the voltage I guess.

I just judge by the time it takes for a TTL flash to recharge, if its more than 2 secs I get my spare batteries out

 

[bwana]

hmmmmm good question! Does Nikons SB700/900 do it? I guess it can't be such a difficult thing to design, all you have to do is monitor the voltage I guess.

I just judge by the time it takes for a TTL flash to recharge, if its more than 2 secs I get my spare batteries out

I don't mind swapping out my rechargeable at a whim but those Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries are flipping expensive (over R100 for four) so I'd like to eek out as many shots as possible without them dying mid-shoot.

 

[Edduck]

i use the hahnel 2800mAh rechargebles @ R200. They seem to last forever in my Canon 430EX MKII. I haven't taken more than 250 shots with them in one shoot though but even after 250 the recharge rate is still very very quick. Much cheaper in the long run imo than lithiums.

 

[MickeyD]

I don't mind swapping out my rechargeable at a whim but those Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries are flipping expensive (over R100 for four) so I'd like to eek out as many shots as possible without them dying mid-shoot.

Want to scare them to death??? hehehehe - had to get one over you; it's not often that I can eke out a mini-victory over you!

And I agree with you, my kids cost me a fortune in batteries as they always forget to recharge theirs.

 

[bwana]

i use the hahnel 2800mAh rechargebles @ R200. They seem to last forever in my Canon 430EX MKII. I haven't taken more than 250 shots with them in one shoot though but even after 250 the recharge rate is still very very quick. Much cheaper in the long run imo than lithiums.

I've got a bag full of the GP Recyko's and for day to day use they rock but I like to keep a couple packs of the energizers in my back for just-in-case.

Want to scare them to death??? hehehehe - had to get one over you; it's not often that I can eke out a mini-victory over you!

touché.

 

[Edduck]

I've got a bag full of the GP Recyko's and for day to day use they rock but I like to keep a couple packs of the energizers in my back for just-in-case.

Aaah I see I gave up on expensive batteries. Now days I just buy two ten pack of clicks branded alkalines from clicks @R40 i think. They work great as backup ups and seem to last forever as well.

The day that Canon or Nikon bring out a flash with a lithium rechargeble/AA battery option I will cry with joy!!!! If they can do it with battery grips, why not flashes?

 

[bwana]

The day that Canon or Nikon bring out a flash with a lithium rechargeble/AA battery option I will cry with joy!!!! If they can do it with battery grips, why not flashes?

I'm not sure I would want that considering how my experience with using AA's in a 7D left so much to be desired.